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Read Cult of Mac’s latest posts on n17:

15 amazing Apple Watch accessories at insanely low prices

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Apple Watch accessories at low prices
Each will cost you $40 or less.
Photo: Elago, Laut, Elkson, SwitchEasy

Bored of looking at the same old Apple Watch on your wrist? Give yours a makeover by adding a brand-new band or bumper case. There are a wide range of awesome Apple Watch accessories available at surprisingly affordable prices.

We’ve rounded up some of the best that are currently priced at $40 or less to help you out. Check out all 15 right here!

Laut’s stunning Steel Loop makes Apple Watch look super-smart — save 15%

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Laut Steel Loop for Apple Watch
Just like Apple's, but less than half the price.
Photo: Laut

Give your Apple Watch a suave and sophisticated makeover with this stunning Steel Loop band from Laut. It’s made entirely from high-grade stainless steel and available in a number of cracking color options.

It’s also wonderfully affordable at under $34 after a 15% discount.

Woodgrain iPhone 12 case takes you back to simpler times [Review]

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Wooden Bumper for iPhone 12 review
Wood are you looking at? This sweet iPhone case?
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

If you have fond memories of the ’70s tech that was generously steeped in woodgrain panels, you’ll love this sweet iPhone 12 case from Limited77.

It combines a flexible, shock-absorbing shell with a wooden finish that gives your smartphone plenty of protection and a little extra character. It’s also fully compatible with MagSafe accessories.

Check out our full review right here — and bag yours at 17% off the usual price.

How to install the macOS Monterey public beta today

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How to install the macOS Monterey beta
You'll need a compatible Mac and around 12GB of free storage space.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Anyone can put the macOS Monterey beta on their Mac — it’s no longer reserved for developers. Apple added the pre-release version to its public beta program on Thursday.

Installing it is free, and not too difficult. Here’s how begin playing with macOS Monterey yourself.

Mophie’s MagSafe car vent charger easily powers your iPhone on the road [Review]

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Mophie Snap+ Wireless Vent Mount reviews
The Mophie Snap+ Wireless Vent Mount is unobtrusive but holds and charges an iPhone 12 well.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Mophie Snap+ Wireless Vent Mount uses Apple’s MagSafe system not only to recharge your iPhone but also let the handset magnetically cling to your car’s dash.

I did some road tests with it, as well as the Mophie Snap Vent Mount, a very similar device that doesn’t include wireless charging. Here’s how they performed.

Improved HyperDrive is the USB-C hub your iPad needs [Review]

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Sanho HyperDrive USB-C 6-in-1 Hub for iPad review
Attach the Sanho HyperDrive USB-C 6-in-1 Hub to your iPad to use a wide variety of accessories.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Sanho HyperDrive USB-C 6-in-1 Hub clips to an iPad and adds a collection of ports, allowing the tablet to make use of a variety of popular accessories, from mice and headphones to external displays. The multiport adapter offers outstanding functionality in minimal space.

The original version is one of the best iPad accessories ever. I tested the followup and it’s even better.

Here’s a scoop: Home Before Dark finally finds its stride [Apple TV+ review]

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Deric McCabe, Brooklynn Prince and Jibrail Nantambu need to be Home Before Dark
Deric McCabe, Brooklynn Prince and Jibrail Nantambu investigate a new mystery.
Photo: Apple TV+

Home Before Dark, the Apple TV+ show about a cute and cuddly girl reporter, returns for more incongruous drama and more bad parenting. The show got off to something of a generic start in its first season, sandwiched between popular styles and uncertain of its identity.

But in its second season, which debuts today, the show digs a little deeper into the setting and characters. As a result, the creative team produced something close to an essential season.

Mosquito Coast buzzes with lies, uncertainty and confrontations [Apple TV+ review]

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The Mosquito Coast review: Things get tense between Allie Fox (played by Justin Theroux, right) and Calaca (Paterson Joseph and Justin Theroux in “The Mosquito Coast,” now streaming on Apple TV+.
Things get tense between Allie Fox (played by Justin Theroux, right) and Calaca (Paterson Joseph).
Photo: Apple TV+

The Mosquito Coast, the Apple TV+ show about a family of environmentalist fugitives, soldiers on into the unknown this week. Less and less about father Allie Fox feels like a certainty. And his family continues to be put to the test while they search for freedom.

Some things are about to change permanently, though. And they’ll happen so fast you won’t have time to think about them until next week’s final episode of the season.

How to enable and use Reachability on iPhone in iOS 14

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How to enable Reachability
Reachability makes even the largest iPhone models easy to use one-handed.
Image: Apple/Cult of Mac

Reachability remains alive and well in iOS 14 — even if you have an iPhone without a Home button. The feature, which makes even the largest iPhone models easier to operate with one hand, is super-simple to use with just a quick flick of the thumb.

However, Reachability is disabled by default, so you’ll need to turn it on. Here’s how to enable and use Reachability in the latest iPhone firmware.

iOS 15 will feature updated Lock Screen, notifications, more privacy features

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iPadOS 14 is good but iPadOS 15 just needs some new features to even better.
What to expect from iOS 15.
Concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

iOS 15 will include tweaked user notifications, an updated Lock Screen, an iMessage overhaul, additional privacy features and a redesigned iPad Home Screen, according to Bloomberg.

Until now, little has been reported about iOS/iPadOS 15 ahead of its likely debut at Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference this June. Thursday’s report says Apple refers to the upcoming upgrade internally as “Sky.”

How to transfer iCloud Photos to Google Photos

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How to transfer iCloud Photos to Google Photos
Copying images and videos from iCloud Photos to Google Photos is surprisingly easy.
Graphic: Cult of Mac

Apple now makes it easy to copy the pictures and videos you have stored in iCloud Photos over to Google Photos. The process is straightforward, but there are a few hoops to jump through.

Here’s what you need to know.

The Snoopy Show will charm children and de-stress adults [Apple TV+ review]

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Snoopy and Woodstock return forThe Snoopy Show
Snoopy and Woodstock return for more low-key laughs in The Snoopy Show.
Photo: Apple TV+

Everyone’s favorite beagle flies back into action for a new series of misadventures on Apple TV+. Charles Schulz’s beloved gang of misfits are here to provide support on The Snoopy Show, based on the Peanuts comics.

The new animated series premieres Friday, bringing some stress-busting, family-friendly entertainment to Apple’s streaming service.

Losing Alice takes a delightfully mean-spirited turn [Apple TV+ review]

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Lihi Kornowski plays a meta-femme fatale in Losing Alice.
Lihi Kornowski plays a meta-femme fatale in Losing Alice.
Photo: Apple TV+

In this week’s episode of Losing Alice, the new Apple TV+ limited series about a disastrous relationship between a cunning young screenwriter and a desperate director, the show moves into the psychodramatic territory it’s been threatening to enter.

In “The Obsession,” an audition goes haywire, Sophie the screenwriter bares her teeth and Alice the director doesn’t notice anything — which will cost her dearly.

This tiny charger juices up your iPhone and MacBook [Review]

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Aukey Omnia Mix review
Don’t let the small size of the Aukey Omnia Mix fool you.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The Aukey Omnia Mix wall charger offers a USB-C port that can handle anything from an iPhone to a MacBook. It’s palm-size but the 65W portable power adapter also includes a USB-A port for other electronics, like an Apple Watch.

My real-world testing included using the affordable charger with multiple Apple devices. Here’s how it stood up.

Elago Charging Tray for iPhone 12 makes MagSafe even better

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Elago Charging Tray for iPhone 12 MagSafe
Charging Tray Duo holds iPhone and Apple Watch.
Photo: Elago

Worried that snapping your MagSafe charger onto iPhone 12 will one day damage its glass? Elago’s awesome new Charging Tray solves that problem by being the ultimate MagSafe accessory.

Made entirely from soft and sturdy silicone, the Charging Tray holds your MagSafe charger to give iPhone 12 a place to rest while it’s being topped up. The Charging Tray Duo also makes space for Apple Watch.

Bag yours today from just $29.

Innovative Apple Watch band lets runners monitor speed and heart rate at a glance [Review]

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EdgeGear Shift review: Seeing your Apple Watch while jogging is far easier with this Apple Watch band for runners.
Seeing your Apple Watch while running is far easier with the EdgeGear Shift.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

The design of the wristwatch hasn’t changed in over 100 years, but EdgeGear has an alternative that makes it easier for runners to see their Apple Watch while on the go. The Shift is not like any band you’ve worn before, as the Watch is held near the base of your thumb, not in the middle of your wrist.

I took the EdgeGear Shift on a few runs, and can report on how it performed in the real world.

Facebook to Bauhaus: 2020’s best tech books

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Best books
Here are some more books to join your already creaking bookshelves.
Photo: Jim Merithew/Cult of Mac

Looking for a great book to bury yourself in as we escape the closing days of a pretty terrible year? Whether you’re looking for one for yourself or a gift for a fellow tech lover, 2020 had no shortage of great titles.

Here are our choices for the best tech books of 2020.

Stillwater will teach kids how to avoid meltdowns [Apple TV+ review]

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Apple TV+'s newest animated series Stillwater
A talking bear teaches kids life lessons in this new Apple TV+ show.
Photo: Apple TV+

Apple TV+ continues its inspired streak of children’s fare with an adaptation of Jon J Muth’s Zen storytelling book series. Stillwater takes the central character from those books, a stoic and wise panda, and pits him against the foibles of three young kids.

Stillwater, which lands on Apple TV+ today, feels like a kind of classic PBS kids cartoon. It’s all about trying to prepare pipsqueaks for life’s disappointments by teaching them how to shift their perspective — and understand that some of life is beyond our control. There’s an awful lot to enjoy in this one.